Double-visibility card rack



Sept. 6, i932. A. R. HuTcHENs 1,875,382

DOUBLE VISIBILITY CARD RAQK Filed July 5. 1930 l Sheets-Sheet Al @d 5f j @afn U7 MMm, .A

A. R. HUTCHENS DOUBLE VISIBILITY CARD RACK Sept. 6, 1932.

Filed July 5, 1950 .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 6, 1932.

A` R. HUTCHENS DOUBLEl VISIBILITY CARD RACK 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 3, 1930 "SPt- 6, 1932- A. R. HUTCHENS 1,375,382

DOUBLE VISIBILITY CARD RACKV Filed July 5, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 65 QW@ www Patented Sept. 6, 1932'^v UNITED OFFICE: i

ARTHUR n. ierrmiciuns,- on LAKE WALES, rLoRiDA DoUBIiEfvIsIBILIrY CARD `RACK Applicatifmv mea July's, 1930.-. sieriaim. 465,726.

thus dispensing with separate card-supporting elements. Another object is to equip a rack frame with cards adapted to be supported by each other, the cards being-slidable in 15"- the frame to expose simultaneously informa-L tion bearing surfaces visible on opposite sides "of the frame.` A further object is to provide slidable supporting members in a rack frame to protect rand support the v*cards and to main-y tain them in alignment. Other objects rand advantages will appear as the description proceeds. f

The invention is fully described inthe following specifcation andshown in the accompanying drawings, in whichv Figure l is a broken front viewy in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; VFig'. 2 is a broken rear View in elevation; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, the sectionbeing taken as indicated atline 3 of Fig. 1'; Figl is a broken detail View illustrating almethod of exposing cards; Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of a single card of the type used in the frame; Fig. 6 is a front View in elevation of a modified form of card yand card.' rack arrangement; Fig. 7 is a Abrokenrelar view; Fig. 8 is a broken sectional view, theV section being taken at line 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9vis a rear view of a plurality of cards secured together in stepped relation; Fig. 10 is a View similar 'to Fig. 9,'the securing strips having been removed; Fig. 11 is a side detail vview ofthe cards as arranged within the rackframe; and Fig. 12 is a plan view of aremovable card which may be used with the modified card- `raclr frame combinationillustrated in Figs. 6,7,8,9,10 and 11. y .Y

Referring to the form of apparatusand card construction shown in Figsd, 2, 3, 4 and `llow and thus to support the card thereon.

formed of wood, metal, orother suitable ma.-

*tz-erial.` The frame A may be provided with f relatively wide front panel strips l, side strips `2 and rear `frame panels 3. The panels `or strips 3 are preferably wider than the side u strips 2 so that there is provided between the members l. and 8, ay longitudinal slotway in which the cards, hereinafter described,` may be slidably conined. A pane of glass 4 is preferably secured vin the front partfof the frame adjacent the rear sides of the panels or strips l andv may be held in position by cross pieces 5 at the two ends of the frame. Y

The cards 6 which are carried in the framey are preferably formed as illustrated in Fig. u 5. vEach of the cards is preferably provided with segments 7 which'are struck'fromy opy posite corners'at the upper side of the card.

The segments 7 form projections adapted to engage the top wall vor edge of the card be- 10 The segments 7 may be lifted out of engagement with'the edge of the card below by ver- :tical movement.

` To support the cards i.6 within the frame,a pair of triangular blocks or slides 8 may be employed. Preferably the lower block 8 is `equipped with a cardv 9 which is'secured to its rear side and which projects above the block :8, so as to engage the segment 7 of a card above. The upper block 8 is also provided l with a card 10 which is secured to the rear side of theblock, card l0,.however,-bei ng provided with segments 7 adapted to rest upon the top edge .of aV card below.y As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the lower blockS lies at the rear of the tier of cards 6, whilethe upper block Slies infront of the cards, be-

jtween the cards and the glass pane 4. Both the upper and lowerblocks 8 Aare slidably 90 mounted inthe frame.

The'cards G may be inserted Within the rack L frame by slightlybending them until they ,have been passed in front ofthe rear panel card engagingthe card 9 on lower block 8 and the uppermost card engaging the segments 7 5, A designates a rack frame ,which may be f i v of card 10.

weI

In the operation of the apparatus, any particular card, the upper edge portion of which is visible from the rear and may bear an index word, may be raised to expose the information thereon by any convenient means, such as for example, a sharp pointed instrument 11. The operator by thrusting the instrument 11 linto the upper edge portion of the card may raise that card and those superimposed thereabove while the cards-belowl remain in their original position. The raising of the particular card exposes not only the information on the rear side of the card raised but also information-carried on the front side of thecard below, thus simultaneously aiiording visibilityvfrom both sides ofthe rack. YDuring this operation, Vthe upper block -8 which is raised with the upper tier of cards holds the cards in alignment4 and aids in the quick return of theV cards to'their original position. l

The cards 6 may be formed of cardboard, or any other suitable material. If desired, instead of employing integral segments 7, re-

inforcing tabs or other means may be used to supportl the kcards one upon the other in stepped relation. The cards may be readily removed from or inserted within the frame in themanner already described.

' In the modiiied form and arrangement shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8,-9, 10, 11 and 12, the

f frame A may be substantially the Isame as that illustrated in Figs. 1,2, 3, 4 and k5. The cards employed in the modified arrangement are preferablyof two forms, i'ixed cards 12 andremOVable card-s 13. Each of the xed cards 12 is preferably cut away at its lower side to provide a rectangular-shaped space 14 and apair of depending legs 15.Y In each of the legs 15 a-segment 16 is struck therefrom rearwardly and upwardly and is adaptedto support the lower edge of the card next above, as shown more clearly in Fig. 11. The fixed cards 12 may therefore be arranged so that each card by means of segment 16 carries fin spaced relation the next card thereabove. To 're-inforce `the fixed cards 12, a strip ,17 of tape," celluloid,.metal-or other suitable material may be secured to the rear side ofthe cards so as to Yengage part of theexposed p0rktions of legs 15 and segments 16. After the re-inforcing strips 17 have been applied to the cards, the column of cards may be pressed into the framefby springing the cards past the rear panel members 3. A triangular block 18, which is `preferably fixed within the kupper part of the frame, may be employed to sup- Vportthe cards in the desired'angulardarrangement and in vertical alignment. The bottommostcard may be secured directly to the frame or, if a block'is used, to the block. 1 The iixed cards orY partitions 12 may be formed' of bristol-board, Celluloid, metal or any' other'suitable material. Y

The removable cards 13 are preferably of the usual rectangular shape illustrated in Fig. 12 and may be made of thin cardboard or any other inexpensive or suitable material. The card is preferablyA long enough to engage the segments 16 on the legs 15 of the fixed cards 12, kand high enough so that a top.,edge portion will extend above the particular partition or card 12 upon which it rests.

the operationpf the device, a removable card 13 is inserted in the space between two adjacentpartitinns or ixed cards 12 so that the bottom edge of the removable card 13 restsupon the ledges or segments 16 of the partiti0l112.-v It will be observed that when `the card `13 restsrupon the, segments 16 of a particular partition or fixed card 12 thelower front portion of the card 13 is visible from theV front side of the rack while the top` rear portionrof the card 13 is visible from the rear' side of the card rack. 'I he cut-away segment 14 of the partition 12 aiiords visibility on one side while the protruding portion vofcard 13 above the partition upon which it rests affords Visibility on the other side.

' In both forms ofjcardvarrangements, the

information cards,l may, be Vconsulted from .opposite side of the rackv frame and may be yremoved bythe operator at thev rear side of the rack framefor inspection. VEAIn both arrangements, separate supporting ymembers havebeen dispensed with andthe ,cards themselves provide the meansofsupport.

terials may be employed without departing from the scope of my invention.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness vof understanding iio only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom; but the appended claims should be construedas broadly as permissiblein view of the prior art.

I claim: f

1." A ldouble-.visibilityt card rack comprising a card frame, a plurality of stepped partitions secured together, said partitions beingprovided at theirlowersides with projections andrhaving cutl away portions adjacent said projections, aiid lremovable cards -V adapted to be received between said partitions and to rest upon said projections, said cards having margin portions extending above the partitions in which they areplaced.

2. A double-visibility, card raclrcomprising'a card frame, a plurality of partitions,

iso

said partitions being provided at their lower sides with projections and having cutaway portions adjacent said projections, flexible connecting means securing said partltions together in stepped relation, and removable cards adapted to be received between said partitions and to rest upon said projections, said cards having margin portions extending above the partitions in which they are placed.

3. A double-visibility card rack comprising a card frame, a plurality of partitions secured together, said partitions being provided at their lower sides with depending leg portions and with projections formed in said leg portions, means for securing said partitions together in stepped relation and removable cards adapted to be received between said partitions and to rest upon said projections, said cards having margin portions extending above the partitions in which they are place 4. A double-visibility card rack comprising a card frame, a plurality of partitions, said partitions having a portion of their lower sides cut away to provide depending leg portions and said leg portions being equipped with projections, flexible connecting means securing said partitions together in stepped relation and removable cards adapted to be received between said partitions and to rest upon said projections, said cards having margin portions extending above the partitions in which they are placed.

5. A double-visibility card rack comprisi ing a card frame, a plurality of cards slidably carried therein, said cards being provided with projections by which said cards are supported by each other and in spaced relation, and an inclined pair of follower blocks, the upper follower block being disposed on the outside of said cards and the lower follower block being disposed on the inside of said cards.

6. A double-visibility card rack, comprising a card frame, equipped with a transparent front wall, cards slidably mounted in said frame, said frame being provided with lateral retaining strips which confine said cards within said frame, and a pair of inclined follower blocks also slidably confined within said frame, one of said slidable blocks being disposed between said cards and said retaining strips and the other slidable block being confined between said cards and said transparent wall.

ARTHUR R. HUTCHEN S. 

